Independent Features & Docs

The Guild’s Organizing Department is actively reaching out to writers of indie features and documentaries about joining. The Guild has recently dedicated resources to expanding our membership in this area as well as strengthening the collective voice of members who already work in independent film. These efforts include signing independent production companies to Guild contracts so that writers on those projects can have the benefits of union membership. Guild membership is important to independent filmmakers because it establishes protections such as guaranteed creative rights, Guild minimum salaries, and residual compensation structures, among others.

The WGA Low Budget Agreement was designed to fit the needs and realities of independent feature and documentary filmmakers. No budget is so low that screenwriters should sacrifice Writers Guild protections and benefits. The following link provides a summary of our low budget feature and documentary contracts.

If you are writing an independent film or documentary and are interested joining the Writers Guild of America, East, please contact WGAE Business Agent Geoff Betts at 212-767-7852 or gbetts@wgeast.org